Hi everyone, wishing all of you all the very best.
I have just been diagnosed today and been told I need a masectomy, I can’t quite take this in. Partner is away on business for a week and I just feel pretty lost at the moment.
Hi curlycat60
Welcome to the chat forums where I am sure you will get lots of support from the many informed users of this site who I am sure will be along shortly to welcome you.
Breast Cancer Care offer many publications which may be of help to you along your journey one of which is our resources pack especially designed for those newly diagnosed. If you would like to obtain a copy, which is free, just follow the link below and you can order one on line.
breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
I hope this is of help to you.
Kind regards,
Louise, Moderator
Breast Cancer Care
Dear Curlycat
So sorry to hear your news. The dx (diagnosis) day is the very worst day there is - and you’ve had to do it all on your own. I cried and cried and cried after my dx - I couldn’t believe it was happening, but it wasn’t like being in shock, it was very real and like a huge kick in the stomach.
Glad you knew to come on this site - you’ll get lots and lots of support from all of us here. The good news too is that breast cancer treatment has advanced a huge amount in the last 10 years and there are lots of good options out there for us all. Mastectomy is OK, not something we would wish upon ourselves, of course, but you will manage and we will be here to help you through.
Thinking of you tonight
Sarah
XXX
Hey Sarah xx
Thank you so much, yep I am crying too now all day I have had tiny wee tears but need to let this out so thank you for helping me to do that. I hope that you are doing ok I don’t know your story so please take very good care of yourself. Hope I can help you too once this has sunk in for me and I can send you something more positive.
Really helps knowing somebody out there knows what I am going thru.
luvnhugs, Carolexxx
Hi curlycat60,
So sorry you have had to join us.
I was devastated when i was diagnosed…jan., 04.
I was 43 when diagnosed, had a lumpectomy, 12mm tumour grade 3 ER+ no nodes involved, had chemo, radio’ and now tamoxifen.
You must be feeling pretty lonely and scared, have you got family and or friends close by who you can talk to?.
Theres always someone on here who will listen and offer support its a very friendly site.
Do keep in touch.
Take care
Karen x
Hey Carole,
I understand you’re feeling: shocked, scared and helpless - we all know those horrible feelings. I was diagnosed in Feb this year and have had WLE, sentinel node biopsy - clear - but then mastectomy with immediate recon in April. My new boob’s lovely, now have flat stomach due to tissue used to make new boob. I know it feels overwhelming and scary - especially with your man away - but it WILL get better. You WILL get through this. And when you have days that you think you can’t - log on here, it really helps.
We’re here for you whenever you need us - any questions re mastectomy etc. - just yell.
Lots of love,
Sally xxxxx
Hi Carole
Couldn’t agree more. Dx day is the worst. I wandered around the nearby shops going round in circles in a total daze. Kept looking at the dressing on the biopsy site because it was the only way I could convince myself it was real. Sometimes wonder what passers by thought about this strange woman who keep peering down her cleavage!! Bought things that I looked at afterwards and wondered why on earth I had got them! But keep logging on. The ladies on here got me through and they’ll do the same for you. Many of them are really knowledgeable about bc and there’s always someone who can answer your questions. I’m sure all will go well for you. Try to take it one step at a time and stay positive. You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.
God bless.
Christay
Thank you to all of you so very much xxxxx
Christay I have kept looking at the wound covering too but I still cant quite believe I am not in a bad dream. Im not sure about much that went on today really it just keeps going on in my head that I have to lose my left boob, what a way to lose weight. I asked them if I would die and they said No, but do they tell everybody that? I just got given 3 booklets and have had a look at them but its not really telling me much I feel. They spoke about reconstruction and it sounds good to me on the flat tummy part Sally but not on the no real boob part. Isnt that so vain and silly of me. I am scared what my bloke will think of me, will he still love me and want me, will I ever feel sexy again, so so silly.
Karen I have seen my sis and told her and she was lovely about it. My bezzy pal is on hols and my others sisters live away or on hols right now. I feel like I am lying to my bloke by not telling him but I dont want him worrying whilst he is over teh other side of the world. This has taken me ages to type cos I keep correcting the mistakes so forgive me as I will stop doing that to get this thank you back to you all.
I will ask some questions tomorrow maybe, thanks to you all, may your angels keep you safe
luvnhugs Carolexxxx
Hi Carole
I was on my own when told my results too and have to say that and the following days as you describe were some of the worst of my life. I am due to start chemo next week and although very hard each step along the way does make it easier as you can learn more and understand that no you are not going to die , treatment is good… Life has changed for us and I found that very sad but over the weeks you will accept what has happened , get angry too , understand more along the way and it really wont seem as scary. There are thousands of women going through this with very successful outcomes and we just have to know that we will become one of them. Waiting for results and the unknown is scary but I felt better after my op knowing it was out and I hope you will feel the same.
take care
cally x
Thanks Cally
Hope that the chemo goes as well as it can for you, sorry I don’t know much about chemo or radio. I just hope that it puts you in the all clear Cally.
Think I will head to bed now and try to sleep, might have a glass of red wine to try to relax me a bit.
Take care,
luvnhugs Carolexxx
Oh Carole,
I guess you are 5 years younger than me, 60 being your year of birth?
Honestly this is the worst you will feel, get over the next week or two and you’ll be ok, promise
This is the scariest bit! Its bad timing that everyone you are close to is away. (not that there is a good time to get bc).
One of the worst bits is telling the people you love and who care about you.I struggled to tell my hubby on the phone, its too hard!
All I can say to you is, keep posting,it really helps. Hopefully your bc nurse will get in touch with you, they are a lifeline, any questions ask her! Or us, we are always here,
sending you a really big hug,
love Kay
xxx
hi so sorry your going through this , especially on your own . its like a sledge hammer out of the blue the day your diognosed . even now i sometimes wonder just how the hell i got through it all but i did and so will you , it wont be easy but it is doable .i had mastectomy oct 2006 and am now on arimadex, you will get loads of support on here from us that have been through it so ask any questions you need to or even rant and rave if it helps (believe me i did !) we will be here to send you a cyber hug anytime you need it . take care lynn xx
Hi Kay, Lynn
Thanks for your comments I appreciate that xxxx
Yes I am now 47 Kay was still awake at 6 ish this morning and then woke about 8.10. Hopefully I will get some sleep tonight.
Not up for talking much just now, sorry, just too tired and tearful. I actually did write a fair bit but it kicked me off the site so I will speak to you soon tho and take good care of yourselves.
luvnhugs Carolexxx
Hi curlycat,
I was diagnosed with bc just over a year ago, and had a left mastectomy exactly a year ago. I can recall the horrible ‘kicked in the stomach’ feeling that comes back as soon as you wake up each morning when you remember.
I had an expander, and then an implant for my reconstruction. My second op was two months ago. I can honestly say now that I don’t even think about it most of the time. I just take the tablets (arimadex) and carry on as before.
Telling my daughter (27yrs) was the hardest. We agreed to never both cry at the same time, and made each other laugh by saying “Hey! stop that, it isn’t your turn”
My husband tried to hide his feelings and be strong for us, but I could tell he was upset too.
It will be better when your bloke is back and I know he will be supportive. They are very good at recon. these days, and I am sure you will be pleased with the final result.
Take care, keep posting on here.
Hugs Heidicat